Steering-gear



STEERING GEAR. m'ucmou FILED mm. 1.19m.

Patented Oct. 18, 1921.

if 255L423 UNITED STATES PATENT orrlce.

DAVID E. ROSS, OF LA FAYETTE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO ROSS GEAR & TOOL GOM- PANY, OF LA FAYETTE, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

STEERING-GEAR.

Application. fileduarch 7, 1921.

of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steering-Gears; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description.thereof,-refer= ence being had to the accompanying drawingrs, which form part of-thls specification.

his invention is an improvement in steer ing gears, particularly adapted for automobiles, boats, etc. Its object is to provide a steering gear in which motion is transmitted direct from the steering shaft to the rocker shaft in a powerful and eflicient manner; and can be readily adjusted as desired in steering the machine; and will hold the rocker shaft securely in any desired adjusted position. A further object is to so construct the gear that the stresses on the rocker shaft due to the transmission will be absorbed or practically counteracted in the rocker shaft itself; thus preventing undue strain on the bearings of the rocker shaft, and the lateral thrust of the actuating member on the steering shaft will be at least in part counterbalanced or counteracted by the rocker shaft construction. The invention provides a very simple, compact, strain absorbing or counteracting steering gear free from reversibility.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one practical embodlment of the invention, and

I will explain the invention with reference to said drawings and set forth in the claims the essentials of the invention and the novel features of construction and novel combination' of arts for which protection is desired.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a view of the steering gear with part of the casing removed, and partly in section, on the line'11 Fig..

, Fig. 2 is a transverse section, partly 1n elevation, on the line 2-2 Fig. 1. a r n Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the rocker shaft member and 'indic'ating in dotted lines th -modeof introducing the threaded ball th ieinto. Q

As shown the rocker shaft 1 is mounted in a bearing Qrfprming part of a 'casing Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 18, 1921.

Serial No. 450,462.

whereon the gear is to be used, by any suitable means. As shown it is secured by a bracket 2 attached to a beam 2 of the chassis.

The steering arm 1 may be of any desired construction, and connected in any suitable manner to the outer end of this rocker shaft. Preferably the steering arm 1 is connected to the rocker shaft 1 by devices as shown in my Patent No. 1,356,579, April 20, 1915.

On the inner end of the rocker shaft is a partispherical head 1 which, viewed from the side, (see Fig. 3), has an approximately hemispherical lower portion 1 and an upper quadrant portion 1. Thisfpartispherical head is adapted to receive a ball 3 which will fit closely and neatly within the interior of this head. The parts 1 and 1 extend approximately 270 from end to end around the ball, (see Figs. 2' and 3). To permit this ball to be introduced into the parti spherical head of the rocker shaft an are shaped recess 1 is made in the front of the part 1 directly opposite or in line with the rocker shaft. This enables the ball 3 to be inserted into or removed from the head as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3, and when to the axis of the rockershaft, or by movement radially thereof. I r

This ball 3 is keyed or otherwise rigidly fastened to the steering shaft 4 as indicated; said shaft 4 extends at right angles to the rocker shaft 1 as shown, but may be set at any desired inclination to the vertical when the rocker shaft 1 ishorizontal.

This ball 3 is provided with a spiral tooth as secured to part 1 by rivets 5 so that i this segment is in effect an integral part of the partispher-ical head of the rocker shaft.

The segment 5 is diametrically opposed to the central; portion of-part 1 of the rocker shaft head, and its threads correspond to and closely engage the teeth 3 on the exterior of the ball, and the peripheries of the fected immediately and, directl gagementof the teeth 3 of t e teeth 3 have a close peripheral fit against the inner side of the partispherical head of the rocker shaft.

To permit the segment 5 to swing around the ball and rock the shaft 1, the part l of the rocker shaft head may be provided with diametrically opposite slots in its sides as indicated at 1 Figs. 2 and 3, so that the shaft 1 and partispherical head can be turned or rocked relatively to the shaft 4 without binding. Referring to Fig. 1, the nut 5 can have a movement of approximately 80 in the casing 2 and the rocker shaft has a corres onding extent of movement. I t

he steering shaft 4 may be journaled in suitable bearings in the casing. As shown, this casing comprises a semispherical portion 2' on the inner end of the bearing 2, and an opposed semispherical portion 2", these portlons 2 and 2 may be provided with peripheral meeting flanges 2 bolted to-' gether as indicated at 2 in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. The portions 22 may be provided with bearings of any suitable kind for the shaft 4, as indicated at6 and '6 in Fi 1, such bearings'being only conventiona ly shown.-

The steering shaft 4 may be tubular and when applied to an automobile the control rods (not shown) can pass through this shaft 4 and be connected to theusual operating devices on the steering wheel on the upper end of the shaft, and by the usual connections to the devices to be operated below the casing. N

Referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that when the steering shaft 4 is turned the ball 3 will be turned therewith and according to direction of rotation of the steering shaft 4 thethreads on'ball 3 engaging the segment 5 will cause the latter .and the rocker shaft to move right or left with greater or less speed according to the pitch of the teeth 3 on the ball 3. Any rotation of the shaft 4 will causea rotative movement of the rocker shaft 1, the change of motion being afbz the enall with the teeth of segment 5 in the partispherical head of the rocker shaft.

The tendency of the threaded enga einent I between the parts 3 and 5 to force-t e segment 5 radially away from the shaft 4 is cou'nteractedand compensated for within the head by the fact that the peripheries of the spiral. teeth on the ball engage the inner periphery of'the head 1 at a point diametrically opposite to the segment 5 (see ere can be no cramping or ing in the casing 2. claim: 1. In a steering gear, a rocker shaft having a parti-spherical head on its inner end adapted toreceive a ball, and a toothed segslots in line with t e steering1 ment on said head opposite a diametrically opposed part'of said head; with a spirally toothed ball rotatably fitted in said head and engaging said segment and bearing against the inside of the head opposite said segment; and a steering shaft connected to said ball, substantially as described.

2. In a steering gear as set forth in claim 1, the head having diametrically opposite slots in line with the steering shaft to permit oscillatory movement of the segment and rocker shaft relative to the steering shaft when the steering shaft is turned, substantially as. described.

3. In a steering gear as set forth in claim 1, a casing inclosing the parti-spherical head, the said casinghaving bearings for the steering shaft and rocker shaft, substantially as described.

4. In a steering gear, a rocker shaft having a parti-spherical head on its inner end adapted to receive a ball; said head having with a spirally toothed all rotatably fitted in said head and engagin said segment and bearing against the insi e of the head opposite said segment; and a steerlng shaft extending into said head and connected tosaid ball, substantially as described.

5. In a steering gear as set forth in claim 3, the "head havin diametrically opposite shaft to permit oscillatory movement of t e nut segment androcker shaft relative to the steering shaft when the steering shaft is turned, substantially as described. 6. In a steerin gear as set forth in claim 4, a casing inc osing the parti-spherical head, said casing having bearings for the steering shaft and rocker shaft, substantially as described.

7; In a steering gear; a rocker shaft having a parti-spherical head on its inner end adapted to receive a ball; and a segmental spirally toothed nut attached to' said partispherical head and lying diametrically opposite part of said head; a spirally toothed ball rotatably fitted in said head and engaging said nut; an a steering shaft extending 1nto and throu said parti-s herical head and throughsaid all, said ba 1 being rigidly at-' tached to the said steering shaft; said head having diametrically opposite slots in line with the steering shaft to permit oscillatory movement of the segment and rocker shaft relative to the steering shaft and ball when thesteering shaft is turned.

8. In a steerin gear as set forth in claim 7, a casing inc osing the parti-spherical head said casing having bearings for. the steer ng shaft and rocker shaft, substantially as described.

49. In a steering gear; a rocker shaft having a parti-spherical head on its inner end adapted to receive a threaded ball; said head havmg an opening for the admission vof the ball at an angle to the axis ofthe rocker shaft, and a segment attached to' said head and projecting therein opposite a diametperpendicular to the rocker shaft, and said ball being rigidly attached to thesaid. steering shaft; the said head having diametrically opposite slots in line with the steering shaft to permit oscillatory movement of the nut and rocker shaft relative to the steering shaft and ball when the steering shaft is turned. 3 a p) 10. In a steering gear as set forth in claim 9, a casing inclosing the parti-spherical head and having bearings for the steering shaft and rocker shaft, substantially as described.

In testimon that I claim the foregoing as my own, I a x my signature.

DAVID E. ROSS. 

